Success

Starting to freak out a bit. It's weird that the playoffs start tomorrow.

That's definitely fair. None of us want to get caught in that "Rivers/Chargers" zone of being solid every year, but never getting that far in the playoffs. I'm really torn on McD, but it will give me some pause if this team rallies now and goes on a run. It's always kind of a work in progress. Reid used to get the same criticism about winning big games in Philly (not saying McD could have a similar transformation, but I haven't ruled it out).

That's sports. No one lays out the red carpet for a title run. A lot of champions have had unpredictable roads to their titles..

It would certainly be an accomplishment if we were able to navigate our remaining schedule - which is the toughest part of our schedule - and make the playoffs. So, yeah.

Our season stories are really action packed. I can't really think of a team that has had more drama the past couple of years.

If we run the table - this will just be a weird story that doesn't matter.

A journalist's purpose should be to report things fairly & accurately. This is a one-sided story. The writer started w/ conclusion, and cherrypicked what he needed to in order to support that conclusion.

Coaches are pretty nutty in general. And we want them to be to an extent - we want them to be obsessive, and live this stuff 24x7, which takes a certain kind of person. If they win, it's all okay. When they don't, it's not. If won a SB the 13 seconds year, and were in line for the 1 seed right now, none of this would be much of a thing.

This year's KC team is so different - and especially now without Pacheco, who was really helping carry that offense. The teams they have had in previous years have been so formidable - the "back to back" losses thing makes more sense w/ those teams. I'm not sure it really applies this year.

I think 10-7 makes it. This season is crazy. Who had Pitt losing to New England yesterday?

McD's comments are going to have SOME impact on the team - it's hard to say if it will be negative, or positive. But given the firestorm, and his reaction - if they like him and generally support him, I could see this being a pretty galvanizing thing. I'm sure everyone groaned when they saw the comments reported, but I'd have to think there is a sense that the national reaction is pretty tough on McD, and somewhat unfair. Could be a motivator. Hey, I'm looking for anything at this point.

Yeah - agreed. He is clearly - to me - someone who tries to do things the right way. His intentions are good. So many of these media firestorms are undeserved. Tons of people pile on, like they have never said a stupid thing in their lives. The last thing I want is to be judged by my worst moments.

Best TNF game I've seen in awhile.

Belichick screaming at the refs for 2 completely legit & correct calls.

That was one of the season's best catches.

I'm trying to think of the last time I was 100% behind the Pats winning. I think Grogan was QB. But, go Pats. Yep. I said it.

Could go either way. The only way it doesn't go is "no impact."

I was looking for this thread, too. The 9/11 comment changes everything, imo. McD is coaching for his job now.

I simply cannot "not care" about this. It is such a colossally stupid thing to say. I've said stupid things. I try to be understanding about it. But my god. And a week after the Von story broke, the Bills are AGAIN the subject of negative conversation, and ridicule. It's too much. How am I supposed to be proud of this right now? I hate being so melodramatic, but I'm punch drunk at this point.

Brady did a great job coming in as OC. Why not HC? Tomorrow?

I mean, I just don't get it. Is there any context that can put this in a better light? The thing is, we ALL have to answer for this now. He puts all of us out there for scorn, and ridicule. 9 friggin' 11? Who thinks of that as any kind of example, of anything?

I'm having a very hard time comprehending the 9/11 thing. There are SO MANY positive examples if he was trying to illustrate that point. I am all about the idea that sometimes smart people say stupid things, and none of us should be judged by our worst moment. But for the sake of pete...9/11?

I haven't read it yet - just the OP & some of the comments. I don't know if McD really is a narcissist or control freak - but I'd guess that a fair # of good & great coaches across all sports could fit those characterizations, at least loosely. I don't think those qualities alone are necessarily 'bad,' at least when it comes to coaching a team successfully. That's not to say McD is a good or great coach, but I wouldn't consider those things to be disqualifying. All of that said, I'm personally very conflicted about McD. I've been a supporter, but the 12-men game, and the meltdown against Philly, have me questioning if it wouldn't be better to start a new path. Instead of hand-wringing and twisting my brain into a pretzel, I've settled on letting the rest of the season decide it, at least for me (which means little): if McD can navigate the brutal schedule we have in front of us to make the playoffs - and particularly if we run the table - he should stay. Imo.

I mentioned this to another poster on this thread: you are talking about perception. I am talking about reality.

Is this golf we're talking about then? Team game, Pats fan.